Child maintenance is worked out on the paying parents wage before tax and national insurance deductions are made. This should be changed to be worked out after tax and national insurance deductions
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If a paying parent was still living with their child/ children then anything they buy would be paid for after tax and national insurance deductions. Working it out before leads to parents paying more than they can afford, losing homes, jobs and getting into debt. In some cases the payments made mean the paying parent is unable to afford to travel to see their children so that relationship breaks down too.